Page 30 of Darkness

I slap his shoulder. “Not an issue… more disappointed in myself. I can’t find a way to get this moving quicker. Once the payments are made to the buyers, I’ll feel better. Then we gotta figure out the process of giving the girls new identities. There’s so much to think about before I let them both go. The problem is…” I turn to Ivy, “… the second I bring you together, one of you, probably both of you, are going to want to take off while we have our guard down. It only takes a second, then your lives and those of my club—”

“Are in danger. Yeah, yeah, I get all that. For the record, amigo, I’m not running anywhere. I like it here, chains and weird brick cell withstanding. But Eva… she took on too much when our parents died. If she thinks she’s lost me too…” Ivy huffs. “This place isn’t so bad. I’ve never felt more protected than I do down here in this… whatever the hell this room is,” she says, looking around.

The corner of Void’s lips turns up like he’s impressed.

There’s something in Ivy. She likes darkness and seclusion.

Ivy had a traumatized childhood. That shakes your foundations. She isn’t like her innocent and pure older sister upstairs. No, Ivy has an edge, an instinct that wants to be tapped into. It vibrates off her, begs for attention like a neon sign.

Ivy is made for the Defiance life.

But is Eva? I don’t know.

“Ivy, your parents were killed in a car accident, correct?”

She narrows her eyes on mine. “Sí… why is that relevant to you?”

“This accident forced your sister’s need to take care of you.”

“I had to take care of her too. It wasn’t a one-way street. She thought I couldn’t hear her crying herself to sleep every night… but I did. So, I got up for school and did what I needed to do to help Eva out. I saw how hard she was working to keep me in school, so I studied harder than I ever had before. I needed to gain good grades so I could learn as much as I could to get into something that would end up paying well. It was my turn to support us. Eva gave up everything. It was my turn. So, I studied, hard.”

“That’s why you’re so smart?” Void offers, surprising me.

“Yes and thank you. I graduated from high school early, applied for the ELAM scholarship, and got the grant. I have two years before I graduate… had two years before I graduate. I guess being here puts a dampener on things.”

“ELAM?” I ask, making sure I got the name down right.

“The Latin American Medical School. I learn everything, but I like learning how things work, the forensics and mechanics of it all. I’m not really in it for the saving and mending of people. It’s useful to know, but I want to go into research, producing and creating new drugs, all the behind-the-scenes important stuff.”

While Eva has taken up all the space in my mind, I relate to Ivy in a way I haven’t related to anyone before. There are glimpses of me shining through in her. “You’d rather make a difference from the shadows than be in the spotlight,” I suggest.

Her eyes meet mine, and she slumps. “Yeah.”

Though there’s no attraction between Ivy and myself, I’m intrigued by her. I want to spend more time with her, come to understand how her brain works, and see if she really is on the same wavelength as me. I thought she’d help me understand Eva. Maybe she’ll help me understand myself.

“Void, you’ve earned a break. I’ll take over for a while. Go get some rest. Come back when you’re ready.”

Void widens his eyes like he’s shocked by my statement. He hesitates, his eyes shifting to Ivy, and she snickers. “Go, Void. I’ll be fine.”

He’s protective of her. Already.

Interesting.

Void stands, moving to walk out. “Do you need anything, Ivy?”

“Maybe another one of those sandwiches?”

“The PB and J? Sure thing. I’ll have Trixie whip you one up, and I’ll bring it down.”

“No need to rush,” Ivy replies. “Take your time. Feel the sun on your face. Enjoy your freedom… while you can.”

I grimace, hearing the undertone in her words. She doesn’t like being locked up.

Void nods and heads for the stairs.

I turn back, planting my hands on the table. “So, it’s just the two of us.”

Her eyes shift past me to the brick walls in the Chamber. “Mm-hmm. Totally alone. Gotcha.” She winks sarcastically at me.

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